Coloma in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Partners In History

By Syd Whittle, March 17, 2009

1. Partners In History Marker

Inscription. Friday, Aug. 27, 1847…made a contract and entered in partnership with Marshall for a sawmill to be built on the Amer. Fork.

So wrote John Augustus Sutter, methodically recording the agreement that led to California’s astonishing gold rush. Sutter left Germany for the United States in 1834, after several years in the Midwest, reached the Sacramento Valley in 1839. A year later he received a 48,000-acre land grant from the Mexican government and began creating a small empire near the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers.

Sutter needed lumber to expand his fort and a partner to help built a sawmill. He joined forces with James Wilson Marshall, a carpenter from New Jersey, and construction began in the fall of 1847. Marshall had almost finished the sawmill when he found gold in the tailrace. Ironically, the discovery that enriched so many brought ruin to its key figures - both Marshall and Sutter died in near-poverty.

Erected by Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

Location. 38° 48.156′ N, 120° 53.557′ W. Marker is in Coloma, California, in El Dorado County. Marker can be reached from Highway 49. Click for map. Marker is located on the trail to the gold discovery

By Syd Whittle, March 17, 2009

2. Partners In History Marker

On the trail to the gold discovery site.

The Gold Discovery Site Monument can be seen through the trees on the right of the photo.

site, a short walk from the parking lot. Marker is in this post office area: Coloma CA 95613, United States of America.

Credits. This page originally submitted on , by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California. This page has been viewed 1,453 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on , by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California. 5. submitted on , by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016.